University Place Metal Stairs And Railing Installation Professionals

Karen L.

Verified review

Dennis showed up in time and a bit early and worked very well on hanging our Christmas lights and removing them. He came over and made me three short hand rails for my stairs and installed them. Then he removed cardboard and paper for recycling from our move. i recommend Dennis for this type of work.

Randall S.

James W.

Verified review

Kelly Martin did this right from beginning to end. I needed a small handrail on the steps from the city sidewalk to my landing. Kelly drove from Federal Way to North Seattle three times: First to scope the job and measure; second, to fit check the railing, and, finally, to install it. He provided via email a proposed sketch and photos of it during fabrication. The result was a beautifully designed, fabricated and installed handrail. I couldn't be happier. Thanks, Kelly! Craftmanship and quality service live!

Gail H.

Verified review

When they finished my industrial bannisters they were exactly what I had imagined. I had 3 bids, they were the best but they also gave me about 60 colors to choose from for the metal and the other Companies only gave me about 6 and said they could not do any other colors. I will try to get photos put up, I am waiting for the handrail going down my second stairs.

Jason R.

Sandra H.

Verified review

I was extremely satisfied with my experience with Pro Welding. From the beginning to the end, it was all extremely positive. They did a beautiful job of making and installing wrought iron railings for the front entrance of my home. They look beautiful and I am extremely happy with the job. I would definitely recommend David at Pro Welding.

Dawn W.

Verified review

Greg was helpful in designing and planning the project as I only had a vague idea of what I wanted. He installed a new staircase bannister and rails for me. It transformed our entry. He is very skilled and his work is beautiful. He also refurbished my old stair runner hardware so that I did not have to buy new ones. I appreciate his work and he is a very friendly and pleasant man who was also cool with my dogs. (That's a big deal!)

Bob C.

Verified review

We used Woods Welders to build the Railing for the main stair in our house. We were very pleased with the work. Our designer then used them to have a custom light fixture made for the dining room. Beautiful! You should definitely work with these guys.

Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

How many types of welding are there?

Welding is a method of fusing together two or more pieces of metal using electricity or flame. Welding is used to construct buildings, make metal sculptures, build and repair cars, make gates and furniture, and for many other practical and aesthetic uses. There are multiple types of welding. Here is an overview of the most popular methods:

Stick welding: Formally known as shielded metal arc welding, stick welding uses extreme heat applied at the seam of two separate metals to melt them together. A third (intermediary) metal may also be incorporated for added strength. As the metals cool, they are bonded together.

Metal inert gas (MIG) welding: Formally known as gas metal arc welding, MIG welding uses a tool to feed metal wire into the weld puddle while an electrical arc melts the wire, which will fuse to the base metal upon cooling.

Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding: Formally referred to gas tungsten arc welding, TIG welding is a similar process MIG welding, but instead of using a tool that continuously feeds metal wire into the weld puddle, the welder must hold and manually feed the stick.

Gas welding: A mix of flammable gas and oxygen is used to heat metal to the melting point.

Forge welding: Forging metal is an ancient art that involves heating two pieces of metal until they are molten, then hammering them together.

How long is welding training?

Because there are different paths to learning to weld, there’s no single timeline for welding training. Some people attend school part-time while working their current job, while others can focus full-time on their welding training courses. People interested in learning how to weld as a hobby can also take classes from professional welders, such as at KCMA & Services in Waterloo, Indiana.

Expect to take at least two years to go from welding newbie to American Welding Society Certified Welder. A junior college Certificate of Completion welding course is two semesters full-time, or 10 units of coursework. With this certificate, students are qualified for an apprenticeship or internship, rather than a full-time entry-level job. Welding apprenticeships range from 6,000 to 8,000 hours long, equalling three to four years at 2,000 hours per year. Some junior colleges, such as Cerritos College in the Los Angeles area, offer more in-depth welding programs that lead to different welding certifications, such as arc welding and tungsten gas arc welding. These take three to four semesters to complete, so you could be qualified for an entry-level job in about two years of full-time study. Alternatively, you can prepare for employment more quickly through an intensive vocational program at a trade school. For instance, Ohio’s Lincoln Electric Company offers a comprehensive program that prepares people for a welding career in just 20 weeks and 600 hours of hands-on instruction.

Where can I take welding classes?

Your options for welding classes depend on where you live and whether you’re willing to travel. Many skilled professionals offer private or group welding classes across the U.S. Some high schools offer classes for teens, but many people learn from a private trainer or in a junior college or vocational school. Students learn basic welding, machining and fabrication processes, including using gas and arc welding equipment, and qualify for an apprenticeship or internship. Other colleges as well as vocational schools have two-year associate’s degree programs that prepare you to take the welding certification exam and seek full-time employment.

How much is welding training?

The cost of welding training depends on where you take your classes and how quickly you want to complete the program. In general, junior college welding classes are the least expensive, but may take longer; trade schools offer intensive classes that lead to certification more quickly, but are more expensive. For example, Cerritos College, a junior college in Los Angeles that offers a welding training course, charges an average of $46 per unit; most of their welding certificate programs require 19 units of coursework, so cost about $875 each to complete. Pro-Weld, an on-site welding school in Idaho, offers three different welding courses. The 36-week welder fabrication and the 24-week gas tungsten arc welding courses each cost an average of $3,300, while pipe welding costs an average of $2,500 for a 24-week session or an average of $4,500 for a 52-week session. The 20-week comprehensive program at the Lincoln Electric Company in Ohio costs an average of $9,500. Many programs require students to purchase approximately $120-$200 worth of personal welding equipment in addition to textbooks or other class material fees.

Actual Requests

See other requests for metal stairs and railing installation professionals in University Place

“Need Stair Specialist”

Tacoma, WA

Project needs

Installing new stairs

Existing plans

Other (sketched drawing from architect, but flexible)

Stair material type wanted

Wood

Desired stair style

As recommended by professional

Desired railing type

Wood

Desired banister material

Wood

Staircase location

Indoors

Number of floors

1

Materials provided

Yes, but I will need guidance from the professional

Age of building

Less than 10 years old

Insurance claim coverage

No, the project is not covered by an insurance claim

Property Type

House

Details

Stairs will provide access to three lofts (one in each of three bedrooms) that are high. Two have open sides (balcony) and one is more enclosed. Architect has sketched some proposed plans.